Women's Health

The sexual and reproductive health of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women is fundamental to their well being and that of their families. Gender plays an important role in determining their vulnerability to sexually transmitted and HIV infections. It also determines their ability to access information, treatment, care and support. And the ability to negotiate the incidence and the nature of sex profoundly impacts their capacity to make safer choices.

Globally, HIV is affecting women and girls increasingly. They comprise 50% of people living with HIV. Nearly 25 years into the epidemic, gender inequality and low status remain the two main factors that put BME women at risk of infection. Many of them are infected because of the behaviour of others and through their limited autonomy in male-female relationships, mainly due to the cultural and religious norms.

All women have the same rights concerning their reproductive health and sexuality, but women living with HIV/AIDS require more care and support. Empowering women alone would not provide an ongoing solution to tackle the spread of HIV infection. Men and the wider communities must be encouraged and challenged frequently to make efforts for more equitable gender relations.

Our women's work focuses on health centres, women's groups, housing projects, hostels and community organisations in London . We offer a series of workshops and seminars to BME women and to people who work with them. The issues we cover include:

• HIV/STI transmission, prevention and treatment
• Sexual health and ethnicity
• Role of parents (mothers) in informing their children about sexual health
• Sexual health and young women (teenage pregnancy , STI and contraception)
• Accessing sexual health services

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